Oral fluoroscope



Ailg. 1.7 1926.

v. L. s. WILT ORAL FLUOHOSCOPB Filed Dec. -26. 1922 INVENTOR,

A TTORNE Y5.

Patented Aug. 17, 1926.

assent VEBNE L. G. WIL'I, OF LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA.

ORAL FLUOROSCOPE.

Application filed December 26, 1922. Serial No. 608,907.

This invention relates to oral fluoroscopes, and has for an object theprovision of a device adapted to permit a person to observe with safety,instantly, and directly, normal and pathological conditions affectingthe calcific density that obtains in the structures of the dental archesand adjacent the 'soft tissues. Viit-h a device of this character it ispossible for an observer to eX- amine impacted teeth, crooked and fusedtooth roots, broken fragments of roots, degree of calcification ofteeth, presence and position of permanent teeth under deciduous teeth,size andstrength of jaw bones, necrotic and rarefied areas in the bones;size and position of foreign bodies which have radiopacity; amount ofbone destruction in pyorrhea alveolaris; fracture of the jaw bone;location and size of salivary deposits in salivary glands and theirducts; foreign bodies in the maxillary sinuses; presence of cysts;diagnostic wires in root canal treatment; and any other condition whichproduces a variation in the calcific density of oral structures.

In practicing the invention 1 provide a device wh'ich may be tubular inform and carries within its tube a lens. ()ne end of said tube isadapted to receive a fluoroscopic screen and the observer looks throughthe opposite end. An X-ray is brought into use and the oral fluoroscopeis inserted into the mouth with the fluoroscopic screen directed towardthe teeth to be examined. hen the X-ray is in operation it is possibleto directly determine various calcific densities of the various toothstructures in accordance with the above uses, as just stated. Aninstrument of this character does not eliminate the use of intra oraland extra-oral radiograms, as such radiograms constitute a permanentrecord of the structures. As it is necessary, however, in the case ofsaid radiograms to wait a definite length of time before a latent imagecan be obtained, this instrument oflers an immediate view of the caseunder examination.

With the above and other objects in view, the invention consists in thenovel and useful formation, construction, interrelation and combinationof the various parts, members and features, all as shown in theembodiment in the accompanying drawing, de-

Figure 3 is a fragmentary longitudinal v view, the parts being shown invsection, of a modified form of the device.

Corresponding parts in all the figures are designated by the samereference characters.

Referring with particularity to the drawing, A designates as an entiretythe improved tiuoroscope, of which a is the body thereof and b a memberadapted to render visible variations in the calcific density of the oralstructures. The body a may be tubular in formation, having one-tube as 1slidable within a second tube 2, with the tubular member 1 provided witha lens 3. The tubular member 2 is adapted to carry at its free .end themember b, and the member 6 shown in Figures 1 and 2 includes a casing4L- which is annular in part, as shown at 5, and provided with anannular flanged shoulder 6. The annular part 5 is passed over andsecured on the free end of the tubular member 2 abutting against theshoulder 6. The member 6 likewise includes an end part 7 which isangularly directed with respect to the annular member 5 and is likewiserelatively flat, as shown in Figure 2. A portion of the casing 4 isopen, as shown at 8. It will thus be noted that the part b is reallyprovided with an annular piece for reception on the tubular member 2 andwith a terminal or head which is triangular in shape. The slope of thepart 7 is preferably at a 45 degree angle with re spect to thelongitudinal axis of the body a. The member I) surrounding the opening 8may be flanged, as shown at 9 so as to hold within said part b afluoroscopic screen 10, said screen closing the opening 8, as shown inFigure 1. Likewise within the member 6 is a mirror or other reflectingsurface 11, said surface being attached to the inner surface of the wall7. lVhen the device A is inserted within the mouth of a patient an X-ray is brought into position so that the rays from the same may bedirected toward the structures ot the dental arches. as shown inFigure 1. and the fluoroscopic screen is likewise directed toward saiddental arches. By placing the eye at the open end 12 off the tubularmember 1 it is possible to ob serve the normal and pathological.conditions of the structures aim adjustment of the tubular members 1 and2 relative to each other will permit proper focusing oil the lens. Inthis connection it is to be observed that the fluoroscopic screen 1Sslightly angled with relation to the longitudinal axis of the body a.This permits the device A to be moved conveniently within the mouth forobservation ct the dental arches without the necessity of the deviceassuming: too great an angularity with respect to said dental arches.Thus in Figure 1 it is possible to follow the al contour ot the dentalarches very e; 1] by a slight side movement of the device A. Thv shadowefiects produced on. the tiuoro; pic screen are transmitted to thereflecting irt'ace 11 and from thence through the lens 3 to the eye ofthe observer.

It may be that a greater angularity is desired of the member Z), andthis accom plished by providing a member (Z, as shown in Figure 3, theother parts being similar. The member (Z includes tube havung; angrularly related portions 13 and A, the part 14 being annularly steppedas shown at 1? so that the tube 2 may be received within the steppedportion 15. Likewise the part 14 carries a prism 16 and the member 7) isreceived on the part 14 of the member (Z. Thus any shadows or otherimpressions received on the fluoroscopic screen 10 will be transmittedto the reflecting surface 11, and

thence to the prism 16, the prism in turn transmitting the rays instraight lines and parallel to the longitudinal axis of the body a.

As a summary it will be seen that vcntion contemplates a small hand mentproviding means whereby dental arches may be directly viewed by anobserver with the said instrument carrying a fluoroscopic screen andwith parts within the instrument for reflecting the vision on saidfluorosc-ope streen to the eye of the observer.

It is obvious that various changes and modifications may be made indeparture iron'i the particular description as given, but that saidmodifications and changes may be made within a fair interpretation ofthe invention as defined by the scope of the apoended claim.

Having thus disclosed my invention, I claim and desire to secure byLetters Patent:

In a device of the character disclosed, a tube, a second tubetelescopically received within said first tube. a lens within saidsecond tube, a member carried at an end of said first tube. a prismwithin said member, said member lreing substantially cylindrical in formand having one portion thereof at an angle to a second portion thereof,a casing carried on the second portion of said member a fluoroscopicscreen carried by said casing, and a reflecting portion within the saidcasing. said reflecting;- portion refleeting the light impressionsreceived on said fluoroscopic screen to said prism and from said prismill'll'OllQ'll said lens oi the first tube.

In testimony whereof, I have signed my name to this specification.

VERNE L. G. lVILT.

the ininstru-

